Barr gets tentative FDA approval to market generic Allegra-D

Barr Laboratories said it received tentative FDA approval to market a generic brand of Aventis' allergy drug Allegra-D, but final approval is contingent on settlement of lawsuits between Aventis and five firms that seek to market generic brands of the drug. Barr applied in 2001 for permission to sell its generic version, but observers predict that trials of the pending lawsuits will not take place until April 2005.